IPL 2026: Schedule, Teams, Auction and Results Guide
The IPL 2026 season was the 19th edition of the world’s richest T20 competition, played from 28 March to 31 May 2026. Ten franchises contested 74 matches across 13 venues, and the season ended with Royal Challengers Bengaluru defending their maiden title — beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB became only the third franchise after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to win back-to-back titles. This guide covers the schedule, the auction, the playoffs and the season’s award winners.
IPL 2026 Schedule and Format
The season retained the ten franchises split into two groups of five. Group A contained Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings; Group B had Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. Each team played its own group once and the other group twice, giving 14 league matches per side (70 in total). The top four advanced to the playoffs: Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the final on 31 May. Fixtures were released in two parts because of state assembly elections in several Indian states.
Auction 2026: Records and Big Moves
The mega auction produced the most expensive overseas buy in league history when Kolkata Knight Riders paid ₹25.20 crore for Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. The other blockbuster move was a trade: Sanju Samson joined Chennai Super Kings while Ravindra Jadeja headed to Rajasthan Royals, reshaping both squads overnight. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin later questioned the Chennai side’s auction strategy after their dismal eighth-place finish, arguing they should have targeted Venkatesh Iyer and Jason Holder — both finalists — instead of two uncapped players at ₹14.20 crore each.
League Stage: Three-Way Tie at the Top
Bengaluru, Gujarat and Hyderabad all finished the league stage on 18 points, with RCB topping the table on net run rate. Rajasthan Royals took fourth place with 16 points. Punjab Kings (15), Delhi Capitals (14) and Kolkata Knight Riders (13) missed out, while Chennai Super Kings endured a miserable campaign — six wins in 14 matches, eighth place, and a third consecutive season without playoffs for the five-time champions. Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants finished ninth and tenth with eight points each.
Playoffs and the Final
In Qualifier 1, Bengaluru crushed Gujarat by 92 runs to book their final berth. Rajasthan beat Sunrisers by 47 runs in the Eliminator, but Gujarat ended their run with a seven-wicket win in Qualifier 2. The final saw Gujarat bat first and stutter to 155 for 8 — Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 50 off 37 the top score, while Rasikh Salam took 3 for 27 for RCB. Virat Kohli anchored the chase with an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, adding 62 for the first wicket with Venkatesh Iyer, as Bengaluru won by five wickets. Kohli was named Player of the Match, capping a season in which he scored 675 runs.
Award Winners and Season Stats
Rajasthan Royals’ teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the story of the season: 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 earned him both the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player award. Kagiso Rabada took the Purple Cap with 29 wickets for Gujarat Titans, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 28 wickets powered RCB’s title defence. KL Rahul’s 152 not out for Delhi Capitals against Punjab Kings was the highest individual score of the season, and Punjab Kings won the Fair Play award. The complete roll of honour now runs from Rajasthan Royals in 2008 to RCB’s back-to-back triumphs in 2025 and 2026.
Read more: our teams and squads overview and the schedule and auction details. All 74 results are archived at SkyBlogs’ full schedule and results archive and InsideSport’s season coverage. All facts were cross-checked on 15 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who lifted the 2026 title? Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final on 31 May 2026 at Ahmedabad, defending their 2025 title.
When was the final played? Sunday, 31 May 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Who won the Orange Cap? Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) with 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30.
Who won the Purple Cap? Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans) with 29 wickets.
What was the most expensive buy at the auction? Cameron Green at ₹25.20 crore to Kolkata Knight Riders — the most expensive overseas buy in history.
IPL 2026: Season Guide and FAQs
The IPL remains the world’s richest T20 league, and the 2026 season carries its usual mix of mega-auction drama, emerging talent, and box-office finishes.
What is the IPL 2026 schedule and format?
The ipl 2026 schedule spans roughly two months of round-robin matches followed by the playoffs, with the ten franchises split into two groups. The ipl 2026 points table decides the four playoff teams, and net run rate routinely separates sides tied on points. Home-and-away fixtures mean every team plays across India’s varied conditions.
How did the auction shape the teams?
The ipl 2026 auction date saw franchises rebuild around retentions, with uncapped Indian talent attracting fierce bidding wars. The ipl 2026 teams and players lists reveal each side’s strategy: some stacked their batting, others invested in all-round depth. Auction steals, young players bought cheaply who then star, are part of every season’s folklore.
Which players should fans watch?
Indian domestic performers use the IPL as their audition for national selection, while overseas stars provide the marquee value. For Pakistani fans, following the league offers tactical insights, because IPL trends in batting tempo and bowling variations quickly spread to international cricket.
How can fans watch IPL 2026?
Broadcast and digital streaming rights make the IPL among the most accessible leagues globally. Fantasy leagues, watch parties, and second-screen commentary have made following the tournament a social ritual far beyond India, and the playoff race keeps every match meaningful.
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